Sometimes, taking a break makes it difficult to get back on track, to get back in the mindset, get back in the solo-gam rhythm. I was finding it hard to come back and play/write something. You lose momentum and it can be hard to get it going again.
Here’s some advice when that happens to you. Grab something new and give it a try. I’ve had ECO MOFOS from
Abilities: Can grow savage claws (d8) and climb sheer surfaces. Risk a Burden to return to usual form. Reflex transformation at full moon. // Roll for two items when foraging. Can always act first in combat. Roll twice when rolling for the result of a Concoction, choosing either.
STR: 10 Dex: 11 Willpower: 6 Luck: 11
Age: 30s
Inventory (8/10): Weary (Burden), 4 shots of juice, 1 supply, Crossbow(d6) and Bolts, Ragged clothes, Padded cloak(+1 armor), Diary and pencil(Minor), Metamorphoses(Minor), Bottle of Vodka, Shard(contains 1 spell: Atomic Flux Separate your atoms before combining again a second later, up to 50 feet away)
Key Items: Direwolf Bite, Peyote Root
Name: Copper Reckless
Codename: Moon
Trade: Builder
Lifepath
-1: 6 → Gain Adaptation or Remove Burden. Gain “Drifter”
-2: 3 → Settle and learn a Trade
Glade was destroyed by natural disaster. Searching for another.
River finds me. One pile of debris same as the next.
Moon, I need you
Everyone needs, especially now
Need you to get Lucky. Went west a few days ago, to the ruins. Need him back. I’ll pay
Spit on the ground.
Fine
A job is a job. Need to move fast. Ruins are past a bunker a day’s travel away. Rumor is the bunker’s deadly and you gotta move real slow. Well, let’s see about that.
Weather save vs luck = 18 vs 11 → Fail. +1 Luck (12)
Signs of trouble = 4 → Winds picking up, dust cloud on the horizon.
The map from Home Ruins to East Bunker, 1 day’s travel.
Fuckin wastelands. A dusty haze hovers over everything and the sun glares down, hot and dry.
Wind picks up. Dust cloud on the horizon. Fuckin’ more good news.
Ain’t no one and nothin’ around. Boring as hell.
Noise in the distance. Sounds mechanical. Droid?
Do I notice the secret path? Test vs The World
2d20 = 8,2 vs Luck (12) = Yes And.
Luck -1 = 11
Yes I notice it, and I find a good item. (Instead of just rolling d666 once for this area, I’m going to roll twice and choose)
Item: Spiked Boots(Val: 1, Slots: 1) or Shredded-Tyre Body Armour (val:2, Slots:2, Armor: 1)
What’s that? Kneel down, boot prints, a path, leading somewhere. Might be something interesting. Unfortunately, in that direction is another mechanical noise, as well as the smell of smoke.
Half-buried in dirt, I find some armor crafted out of shredded tires. Unfortunately, I can’t carry more shit at the moment so I leave it.
Fuck that. Keep moving east, which unfortunately takes me towards that first sound.
Hazard: Auto Security System Droid
Reaction: Wired
Encounter: None
The bones of a huge beast rise up from the ground, towering over me.
A swarm of ants climb on top of me, so many and so fast, they’re all over before I can stop them.
Fuck fuck fuck
And then they’re gone, crawling off me, leaving me clean, as if I’d taken a bath.
Ok, ok, that’s pretty fuckin’ cool.
The mechanical noise is louder and I duck down. I spot the security droid walking around the remains of the beast. Droids are not to be fucked with, if you can help it.
Do I sneak past the droid?
2d20 = 1,2 vs 11 (dex) = Yes, And I find something good (as before)
Item: Crumpled copy of The Dispossessed Val: 3 Slots: 0
I manage to keep large bones sticking up through the ground like pillars between me and the droid, until it totters off into another direction, away from me. I find a book on the ground and shove it in my pack before moving on. Could be valuable. Old shit usually is.
I keep moving.
Time Passed: 5 hours
Encounter: None
Random Item: Vial of Poison. If ingested, STR Save or die Val: 3 Slot: 1
More dusty haze over cracked ground. Mindless repetitive terrain. The mechanical sound of the droid behind me fades away.
I feel something under my feet. Kneeling down, putting my hand to the ground, I feel the thrum of a generator. Must be a Lair or Bunker nearby.
Cresting a small hill, I spot a cave, six security pulse cannons stationed near the entrance.
Fuck that…
Like I said, don’t mess with droids.
I navigate around them and continue on my way, picking up speed.
Forgot about weather change every 4 hours.
luck roll vs 10. 4 vs 10 → Pass.
Better Weather: Brisk day, grasses swaying in waves
Reach Bunker. 6 hours passed. Currently morning.
Environment: An unnerving patch of verdant growth in a sea of dust
Feature: A field of bones, thousands of humanoid skeletons heaped
Encounter: None
Item: Vial of Poison. If ingested, STR Save or die Val: 3 Slots: 1
Did I mention I hate dust? It gets everywhere.
I cough, trying to get it out of my lungs, finding a patch of vibrant, green grass growing out of the ground.
I lean down, touch it, look around. How the hell? Luscious, thick grass, maybe half an acre of it, surrounded by the dust of the wasteland. Nestled in the grass, I find a vial of poison and pocket it. Could be handy.
The grass covers a steep hill, over which, I find the Bunker I’d heard about. It looked hacked into the rock, another cave of sorts, but there was a sealed door over this one. Perhaps this Bunker had something to do with the grass above it.
I keep moving while there’s daylight. I need to find Lucky and get him back. Past the hill lie ruins.
At least I’d get a break from the goddamn wastelands.
I am loving Eco Mofos. It’s focused terrain/location/environment generating travel rules are really fun (although a little clunky to figure out how to apply them at first). It’s also been great inspiration and making me want to solo game. It’s nice to take a break from Niv Lova because playing and creating in that system/world can be a little much at the same time. Don’t worry, I will get back to Gadyuka soon. For now, I’m going to follow ‘Moon’s journey some more.
Please drop a comment and let me know what you think so far, or if you have any questions about the game so far.
If interested in supporting me, consider subscribing and sharing my work with others.
You can also buy Niv Lova, the game I made or join as a paying subscriber. Paying subscribers will receive copies of anything I create ttrpg-related for free. I’m also considering sending out a free small ttrpg-related resource (1-page-ish) once a month to Paying Subscribers.
Check out the Table of Contents for previous games I’ve played as well as other stuff I’ve written. It hasn’t been updated in awhile but does have some previous actual plays that I’m pretty proud of
A really cool write up! I haven't heard of this game before, but I always like to keep an eye out for any of the various Punk genres! Looking forward to reading more of Moon's journey!
A really cool write up! I haven't heard of this game before, but I always like to keep an eye out for any of the various Punk genres! Looking forward to reading more of Moon's journey!
Love your writing style! Terse and factual with underlying emotion. Reminds me of the video game Out There.
And I also love Eco Mofos for solo play. The procedures really work well. It’s the one solo experience that kept me engaged for the longest.